One of the older RC racing classes, the first World Championships took place back in 1985 in Pomona, California, that time run by ROAR. Now flash forward 26 years and Vaasa, Finland will see the 14th World Champion crowned in both 2wd and 4wd.

IFMAR 1/10th scale 2wd buggy World Champions
1985 – Jay Halsey (Associated RC10) – Pomona, California*
1987 – Joel Johnson (Kyosho Ultima) – Romsey, England
1989 – Masami Hirosaka (Associated RC10) – St. Ives, Australia
1991 – Masami Hirosaka (Associated RC10) – Detroit, USA
1993 – Brian Kinwald (Associated RC10 Worlds) – Basildon, England
1995 – Matt Francis (Associated RC10B2) – Tsukuba, Japan
1997 – Brian Kinwald (Losi XX-CR) – Pomona, California
1999 – Masami Hirosaka (Associated RC10B3) – Rauma, Finland
2001 – Matt Francis (Losi XX-CR) – Pretoria, South Africa
2003 – Billy Easton (Associated RC10B4) – Largo, USA
2005 – Neil Cragg (Associated RC10B4) – Collegno, Italy
2007 – Hayato Matsuzaki (Associated RC10B4) – Ishikawa, Japan
2009 – Martin Achter (Associated RC10B4) – Pretoria, South Africa**
2011 – Ryan Cavalieri (Associated RC10B4.1) – Vaasa, Finland

IFMAR 1/10th scale 4wd buggy World Champions
1985 – Gil Losi Jr (Yokomo SDF YZ-834B) – Pomona, California*
1987 – Masami Hirosaka (Schumacher CAT XL) – Romsey, England
1989 – Masami Hirosaka (Yokomo SDF YZ-870C) – St. Ives, Australia
1991 – Cliff Lett (Yokomo SDF Worlds 91) – Detroit, USA
1993 – Masami Hirosaka (Yokomo SDF Worlds 93) – Basildon, England
1995 – Mark Pavidis (Yokomo SDF YZ-10) – Tsukuba, Japan
1997 – Masami Hirosaka (Yokomo SDF MX-4) – Pomona, California
1999 – Jukka Steenari (Losi XX-4) – Rauma, Finland
2001 – Jukka Steenari (Losi XX-4) – Pretoria, South Africa
2003 – Ryan Cavalieri (Losi XXX-4) – Largo, USA
2005 – Ryan Cavalieri (JConcepts BJ4) – Collegno, Italy
2007 – Jared Tebo (Associated RC10B44) – Ishikawa, Japan
2009 – Martin Achter (Durango DEX410) – Pretoria, South Africa**
2011 – Ryan Cavalieri (Associated RC10B44.1) – Vaasa, Finland

* Event run by ROAR open to 2wd or 4wd but split between Stock & Unlimited
** Event was boycotted by most factory teams and so only 20 drivers attended

> You can’t mention this class without talking about Masami Hirosaka, the Japanese legend took 7 of his 14 IFMAR World titles in this class of racing. 4wd his best class netting him four of those wins with three in 2wd, coincidentally his last title coming in Finland back in 1999, the only other time this country has held the race.
> The USA lead the way with number of wins, with a total of 13 spread over both classes. Next is Japan with 8 wins, Hayato Matsuzaki adding one win on home soil to Masami’s seven. Finland have the next best result with 2 wins for Jukka Steenari, while Martin Achter takes 2 controversial titles for Germany.
> The last time the event was held in Europe it was in Collegno, Italy and on that occasion British Driver Neil Cragg took his first and so far only title in the 2wd class, while US driver Ryan Cavalieri took his first World title in 4wd, which he would back up with another win 2 years later.
> In 2wd the class has been dominated by Associated with 10 titles to their name, with Losi the next best in 2nd with 2 wins. Kyosho are the only other manufacturer to win in this class with Joel Johnson giving them their solitary win back in 1987.
> In the 4wd class it is Yokomo who have the most victories with 6, while Losi come in 2nd with 3 wins. Schumacher, Associated and Durango all have one win each.
> Five IFMAR World Champions – Ryan Cavalieri, Jared Tebo, Neil Cragg, Brian Kinwald & Martin Achter will compete at the 2011 event. However we are sure a few more will be in attendance.

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